gälla is one of those verbs English has no single match for. It means "to be valid," "to apply," or "to concern / be about," depending on context. A ticket gäller (is valid), a rule gäller (applies), and a phone call gäller something (is about it). It is a Group 2 -de verb, and because its subject is almost always a thing or situation, you'll meet it overwhelmingly in the third person.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gälla | gäller | gällde | gällt | (gäll — rare) | Group 2 (-de) |
A regular Group 2 -de verb: present gäller, past gällde, supine gällt. The double -ll- stays throughout. The imperative gäll exists in theory but is virtually never used, since you can't really command something to "be valid" — that's why it's flagged as rare.
Use 1: to be valid
The most concrete sense: a ticket, an offer, a passport, or a rule is in force for a certain period or under certain conditions.
Biljetten gäller en månad från första resan.
The ticket is valid for one month from the first journey. gäller = is valid, the everyday sense.
Erbjudandet gällde bara den helgen, så nu är det för sent.
The offer was only valid that weekend, so now it's too late. gällde — the Group 2 -de past.
Mitt pass har gällt i tio år, men nu måste jag förnya det.
My passport has been valid for ten years, but now I have to renew it. har gällt — perfect, supine after har.
Use 2: to apply, to concern (everyone / a case)
gälla also says a rule or fact applies to someone, or that a matter concerns something. The person or group affected follows directly.
Det här gäller alla, inga undantag.
This applies to everyone, no exceptions. Det gäller alla — applies to / holds for.
Samma regler gällde inte för honom, och det visste han.
The same rules didn't apply to him, and he knew it. gällde — past, 'applied to'.
Use 3: Vad gäller det? — what's it about?
When something gäller a topic, it is about that topic. This gives the very common phone and reception phrase Vad gäller saken? / Vad gäller det? ("What is it regarding?").
Vad gäller saken? — Jag ringer om min faktura.
What is it regarding? — I'm calling about my invoice. Vad gäller saken? = a polite 'what's this about?'.
Det gäller min son — han har inte kommit hem.
It's about my son — he hasn't come home. Det gäller... = it concerns / it's about...
Use 4: det gäller att + infinitive
A high-frequency idiom: det gäller att + infinitive means "the thing is to," "what matters is to," "you've got to" — it frames what's crucial in a situation.
Nu gäller det att hålla huvudet kallt.
Now the thing is to keep a cool head. det gäller att + infinitive = what matters is to...
Det gällde att komma fram före mörkret.
The point was to get there before dark. gällde att — past of the idiom.
Common Mistakes
❌ Biljetten gällte en månad. (wrong past ending)
Incorrect — the stem ends in voiced -ll, so the past is -de: gällde, not *gällte.
✅ Biljetten gällde en månad.
The ticket was valid for a month.
❌ Det gäller för alla. (extra preposition)
Off — with a person or group, gälla takes a direct object: Det gäller alla, no för.
✅ Det gäller alla.
It applies to everyone.
❌ Vad handlar det? (wrong verb for 'what's it about')
Incomplete — 'what's it about?' on the phone is Vad gäller det? (handla om needs the om: vad handlar det om?).
✅ Vad gäller det?
What is it about?
❌ Nu gäller det hålla huvudet kallt. (missing att)
Incorrect — the idiom needs att before the infinitive: det gäller att hålla...
✅ Nu gäller det att hålla huvudet kallt.
Now the thing is to keep a cool head.
- infinitive ("what matters is to").
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